TAXONOMICAL STUDIES ON GLUTAMIC ACID-PRODUCING BACTERIA

Abstract

The taxonomic characteristics of 208 strains of glutamic acid-producing bacteria and the base compositions of DNA from representative strains were studied. These organisms are usually gram-positive, non-sporulating non-motile and ellipsoidal spheres to short pleomorphic rods, requiring biotin for growth and accumulating aerobically large amounts of L-glutamic acid. Some minor differences are found in the physiological characteristics of these strains. All strains examined belong to a single species or to very closely related species in genus Corynebacterium. They can be classified biotypes physiologically into 12 types. The guanine plus cytosine (G-C) content of DNA of these strains varied as represented by 3 groups, groups -I, -II and -III, G-C contents of which are 53,56 and 65%, respectively.